Drive-belt



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM S. SMITH AND SAMUEL N. CRIDER, 0F HAGERST OWN, MARYLAND.

DRIVE-BELT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented A11 12, 1919.

Application filed September 19, 1918. Serial No. 254,709.

fans provided on automobile engines, having especially in mind such usein connection with Ford engines. However, it is capable of use withequally good results wherever a belt of this nature can be employed.

Its objects are to provide such abelt which can be built up from linksand easily adjusted as to length by the addition or removal of links;which can be easily repaired simply by the removal of a worn link orlinks and the substitution therefor of new links; to provide for greatstrength and durability in such belts; to provide a belt of this naturewhich will not stretch appreciably in use and become loose; and toprotect the pulleys of the engine from wear of metallic parts while atthe same time preventing undesirable noise in operation, all of whichobjects are accomplished by the construction, combination andarrangement of parts, all as hereinafter more particularly set forth,described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a belt embodying our inventionas applied in use;

Fig. 2, a detail enlarged view of several of the links, several of saidlinks being shown in longitudinal plane section;

Fig. 3, a similar view in side elevation, several of the links beingshown in longitudinal cross section; and

Fig. 4, a transverse cross-section through one of the links.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, A represents the drive pulleymounted on the shaft E and which drives belt D, which passes over thepulley B connected to the hub of fan C mounted on a suitable shaft orpost, all as is usual.

The belt D is composed of a number of links, each of which consists of apiece of sheet metal 1, which may easily be, and preferably is, formedby stamping out from a sheet of metal. This metal piece 1 is providedwith a long transverse slot 2 near one end and a narrow strap which isbent over to form a hook 3 at the other end, the width of the hook beingslightly less than the length of slot 2.

Also, said sheet metal part or core 1 is provided at its central portionwith a perforation 6.

A rivet is passed through this perforation 6 until lts large head 5 isin engagement with the inner side of the plate 1, when the leather, orother suitable, covering 4 is wrapped around plate 1 over rivet head 5and has its end portions overlap each other on the outside of the link,when the bifurcat1ons 7 of the rivet are to be spread and hammered down,as shown in Fig. 3, this hammering down or riveting over of the ends 7resulting in bending the plate 1, givmg it a slight curve on the innerside of the belt, as shown in Fig. 3, so that it will conform to thecurved surface of the pulleys much better than a straight plate would.

. Normally, before assembly into a belt, the lndividual links have theirhooks 3 left open, as shown in Fig. 3. To build up a belt the hook 3, inthis condition, is passed through the slot 2 of the adjacent link andthen bent down, as shown in Fig. 2, and so on, until the belt iscomplete, when it is to be slipped on the pulleys A and B with the ends7 of the rivets on the outside of the belt and the heads 5 presentedinward, this arrangement of the links avoiding wear by metallic parts onthe pulleys A and B, avoiding unpleasant noise that would be caused bythe ends 7 cl cking a ainst the pulleys A and B, were said ends Ipresented inward, and also putting the strains on the hooks 3 at a pointwhere it will have the least effect or tendency to pull said hooks 3open. The curve in the plates 1 also has a value in this connectlon asit avoids sharp angles at the points of connection of the links.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. A belt link comprising a core of strong material having an openingnear one end and provided with a hook on its other end portion, saidhook being of relatively flexible material and adapted to be passedthrough an opening in a similar link core and closed thereafter, asuitable frictional covering and a fastening device passing through saidcore, having one end covered by said covering and the other end flushwith the surface of said covering, whereby said device is protected andsaid covering is secured to said core.

2. A belt consisting of a series of detachable links, each linkcomprising a sheet metal core having one end portion slotted and theother end portion formed into a hook passed through the slot of theadjacent link and bent over to close it against the escape thereof, arivet for securing a suitable covering to said core, and a coveringWrapped around said core, covering the head of said rivet, and held inWrapped position by spreading the exposed end of the rivet.

8. A belt consisting of a series of detachable links, each linkcomprising a sheet metal core having one end portion slotted and theother end portion formed into a hook passed through the slot of theadjacent link and bent over to close it against the escape thereof,* acovering Wrapped around said core, and a rivet having its head locatedbetween said covering and said core, passing through said core and saidcovering and having its exposed end spread to hold said covering to saidcore.

In testimony whereof, We have signed our names to this specificationinthe presence of two subscribing Witnesses,

WILLIAM S. SMITH. SAMUEL N. CRIDER. Witnesses:

H. LEI-IMAN STRooK, F. NELSON CRIDER.

Copies or this patent may be obtained for five cents ach; aadfessiag thecommissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

